Dates: Ramadan stimulates the market

January 29, 2025 at 4:35 PM , Der AUDITOR
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TEHRAN/RABAT. Iranian date producers are very satisfied with the season so far and Ramadan is significantly boosting demand in the Muslim buyer countries. Tunisian exports have also risen significantly, as have EU imports.

Sufficient stocks and good quality

The weeks leading up to Ramadan, which begins this year on the evening of 28 February, are among the most important of the year for Iranian date exporters. FreshPlaza spoke to Iranian market player Hossein Vasei, who says that supplies are large enough to meet the high demand. Total Iranian production this season is 1.3 million mt, 8% more than last season's production. The coveted Mazafati dates account for around 180,000 mt, which is 10% more than last year. This is mainly due to the favourable weather conditions, which played into the hands of the growers with moderate temperatures and well-distributed rainfall. The quality of the dates is also impressive as a result, especially as effective irrigation has significantly reduced drought stress.

Transport causes difficulties

According to Vasei, the Ramadan demand comes primarily from Asian countries with a high Muslim population. These include, for example, the Middle East, India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia. In contrast, demand from Europe is lower than usual this year, which is due to the poor economic situation. In addition to Mazafati dates, the Piarom, Kabkab and Sayer varieties are in particular demand.

Exporters are nevertheless facing a number of difficulties. These include continuing inflation, which is particularly noticeable in transport costs, as well as repeated interruptions in the supply chain – for example in the procurement of high-quality packaging materials.

Prices for Iranian dates have fallen slightly compared to last week. Mazafati dates, Grade A are currently trading at EUR 1.19/kg FOB Iran.

Dates, Iran

Type

Grade

EUR/kg

USD/kg


Mazafati

Grade A

1.19

1.24

Grade B

1.09

1.13

Premium

1.41

1.47

Piarom

Premium

3.53

3.67

Zahedi

Premium

1.06

1.10

Sayer

Premium

0.84

0.87

FOB Iran, order volume 1 mt

Morocco as a major importer

Importers in Morocco are also stocking up on dates in the run-up to Ramadan. The ongoing diplomatic tensions with Algeria have led to Egyptian and Tunisian dates being favoured as cheap alternatives, reports FreshPlaza, citing Yabiladi. The Ramadan purchases have therefore led to a sharp increase in imports, which has even set a new record.

In Tunisia, exports to Morocco accounted for an important share of 19.7% last year. Morocco is thus overtaking traditional destinations such as Italy and Turkey. "Driven by Moroccan demand, Tunisian exports increased by 11.4% in revenue by the end of December 2024, reaching 342.2 million dinars”, reports the National Agriculture Observatory (ONAGRI). In 2023, Morocco was the second most important date importer in the world after India, even though domestic production has also increased significantly. The country sources its dates mainly from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria.

Tunisia is the most important EU supplier

Despite the tense economic situation, EU imports of dates increased by 16.8% in 2024 compared to the previous year. Here, too, Tunisia is the most important supplier with 66,407 mt and an increase of 16.7% compared to 2023. It is followed by Algeria (-2.5% to 26,060 mt) and Israel (+9.4% to 18,597 mt). The EU imported a total of 155,893 mt of dates in 2024, with France and Germany being the most important buyers, followed by the Netherlands, Italy and Spain.

EU date imports, in mt

Supplier

2023

2024

Diff.

Tunisia

56,924

66,407

16.7%

Algeria

26,732

26,060

-2.5%

Israel

17,004

18,597

9.4%

Iran

12,225

15,592

27.5%

Pakistan

4,803

6,872

43.1%

Occupied Palestinian Territories

3,094

5,105

65.0%

UAE

3,273

3,738

14.2%

Saudi-Arabia

2,612

3,474

33.0%

Turkey

1,589

1,947

22.5%

Egypt

934

1,871

100.3%

Others

4,275

6,230

45.7%

Total

133,465

155,893

16.8%

DG TAXUD Customs Surveillance, provisional data, 01/01-31/12
08041000 Fresh or dried dates

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